cisco router cost and performance comparison

hi,
first you let us know, what are the basic requirements you have.
if you need only lan ports/ wan ports in ethernet...(  serial card or any addition card slot is not  require) there are lots of options.
you can go for MIKROTIK also.

These are two very different products.  The ISR runs the Cisco IOS and is very sophisticated (and more complicated to configure).  The RV is more of a high-end consumer/low-end business device.  It is quite respectable, but really not in the same category.

As Dipraj indicated, if you can specify what your needs are it would be better to advise you.

I have a Cisco RV325 router here and we use Cisco RV series in small business environments. They are entry level commercial, and very good units.  

As noted, the GUI interface is easier to use and lots of flexibility has been built in. Throughput is excellent.

So if you do not need the features of the more expensive unit, then the RV345 will do just fine for you.  As noted, I use these boxes.

Anyone ever has experience using this ISR 4331?

The task I am involved is very small, built a remote site with site-to-site VPN connection, the remote site need internet service and IP phone service.  I would assume any consumer grade routers(include LinkSys, netgear, ubiquiti etc.) can do this job.

The reason I am asking is: The ISR 4331 is a brand new box from the previous purchase(for some reason, not able to return due to passed 30 days), so it's kind of free (actually not free, just no more extra investment needed for this new task), if I want to buy any other router, i have to invest certain amount of extra money even though it might be just a couple of hundred dollars. I am wondering if I could possibly use this ISR 4331 router without spending extra money, but surprised the throughput is so low, even can not catch up with a low cost consumer router. not sure how I could answer the question if somebody complaint the slow internet speed after it's installed. Obviously most router brand are advertising the gigabit speed these days.

hi....

for site to site IPSEC based VPN..... you can go for any router with g

hi....

for site to site IPSEC based VPN..... you can go for any router with GB port.

****kindly ignore earlier reply**

The router I use above supports IPsec VPN tunnels quite nicely. I have 4 site to site clients set up this way.

I do appreciate all the answers above, and also understand the fact that most decent routers can do the IPsec tunnels. But my question is: Why should I throw away this ISR 4331 ? I need somebody to convince me not to use this free router and spend extra couple of hundred dollars for something else. if somebody have some hands-on experience with this ISR4331, that would be helpful.

you can use any router...which support ipsec VPN can able to handshake with your ISR

This is a decision you have to make. I upgraded to the router I have to get the extra throughput which I need. The router you have is a good router but I want the higher speed.  If you can get by with the throughput of your own router, then use it.

What will be the task for the router, this is a better question then compare prices. first you need the functionality.
the 100mbit throughput of the 4331 is calculated at full functions. but it will do much more with less functionality.
we use them to hand over l2l L3 and ikev2 3rd party connections. and there very good routers. RV series is for small business. (linksys)

Benjamin,

Thank you for the comment with your experience of this ISR 4331. The task is pretty simple as I have listed in the post above----built a branch site with VPN connection, and I know that any consumer grade router include Linksys or small business router like cisco RV 345 can certainly do the job. My puzzle is how come a $1000 router only have throughput of 100Mb and a consumer router or small business router which cost much less($100 to $300) can have the throughput of 1000Mb?

My puzzle is how come a $1000 router only have throughput of 100Mb and a consumer router or small business router which cost much less($100 to $300) can have the throughput of 1000Mb?

Newer routers in the entry level commercial class are designed to handle the new higher ISP speeds (a highly competitive area).

Some commercial routers are keeping up and some are not as security and robust gear is as important as higher speeds. Higher speeds will come of course.

within the cisco isr 4300 series, the throughput is license based. with you can grow as needed. the isr4300 series can do things  like hsrp, bgp, ospf, mpls and much other things. the RV series can't do this. it can handle multiple power supplies, and interface cards to handle any kind of wan connections.

I have been working with boxed like this starting in the mid 1990's and i haven't seen one broke down.

with a base license they can do up to 170 mbits of ipsec throughput ( bidirectional) this is with in the us law. want to have more by a hsec license.

when this is enough for youre remote office, just use this on. the only thing you need to configure them with the cli. all the good stuff doesn't have a web interface ;)

when  you need help to build a config just send me a message.

I do not dispute the above post, but the additional licensing costs yet more money. This is for a medium or larger business.

My comments were geared toward small businesses where cost of equipment remains a factor.

ComProbSolv, thanks for your valuable comment, what you said make sense in a practical way. In fact, both John and Benjamin answered my question from some aspect. So I will split the points to all three of you. Again, thank you all for the contribution on the comments.